Starbucks kicked off the new year by adding new espresso beverages to its menu, the Cortado and the Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado. Customers will also have the ability to customize the level of sweetness in Starbucks matcha beverages, and seasonal favorites such as the Pistachio Latte and Pistachio Cream Cold Brew return for a limited time this winter.

Originating from Spain, a traditional Cortado is small in size and strong in flavor.  The name comes from the Spanish word “cortar,” meaning “to cut,” as the milk cuts through the bold flavor of the espresso to create a beverage that is smooth and balanced.  

Starbucks Cortado (available hot, in an eight-ounce size) is crafted with three ristretto shots of subtly sweet Starbucks Blonde Espresso. Ristretto shots enhance the rich, concentrated flavors of the coffee with a method that uses the same amount of coffee grounds as a regular espresso shot, but with less water and a shorter extraction time resulting in a sweeter, richer flavor.

“Espresso is the heart and soul of Starbucks,” says Ricky Gonzalez, who works on the Starbucks beverage development team. “Our goal was to create a new way for customers to experience espresso from us.”

The Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado offers a flavorful twist on the classic Cortado and is a non-dairy option. This beverage also features three ristretto shots of Starbucks Blonde Espresso that deliver a sweet, more intense coffee flavor, combined with warm, comforting notes of brown sugar syrup and steamed oatmilk. It’s finished with a dash of cinnamon.

Returning beverages include:

• Pistachio Latte – Features Starbucks Signature Espresso and steamed milk infused with the cozy flavors of sweet pistachio and a brown-buttery topping. Available hot, iced, or as a Frappuccino blended beverage
• Pistachio Cream Cold Brew – Features Starbucks Cold Brew, a custom blend of beans grown to steep long and cold, handcrafted in small batches daily, for a super-smooth flavor. Sweetened with vanilla syrup and topped with smooth pistachio cream cold foam and salted brown buttery sprinkles

Pistachio beverages are available for a limited time this winter, while supplies last.

In response to a popular customer request for the ability to adjust the level of sweetness in Starbucks matcha beverages, Starbucks has updated its matcha powder to now be sweetened with classic syrup. This gives customers the ability to customize the sweetness level by adjusting the amount of classic syrup in the beverage when ordering in the store or on the Starbucks app.

Food items on the menu include:

• New Certified Vegan Spicy Falafel Pocket – Combines smashed falafel, creamy hummus, roasted red bell peppers, pickled onions and a spicy herb sauce, all wrapped inside a toasted lavash flatbread
• Vanilla Bean Custard Danish – Features layers of sugared Danish dough baked until golden and filled with rich and velvety vanilla bean custard
• Valentine Cake Pop – Features vanilla cake mixed with buttercream, dipped in red chocolate icing and decorated with a heart design